Recent developments in Iraq remind us that terrible instability can return in short order despite encouraging signs and limited steps toward reconciliation between warring Sunni and Shiite forces. … Read More

As if they don’t have enough on their plate, the leaders of President Obama’s national security team are obliged to produce a new national security strategy by mid-year. Administrations since Richard Nixon’s have prepared such documents – presumably an overarching strategy to deal with the wide… Read More

Fifty-five American diplomats held hostage for 444 days in Tehran (1981). A CIA-led overthrow of a democratic Iranian government (1953).
Iranian complicity in terrorist bombings of Marine barracks … Read More

A former Secretary of State traveled to London, Moscow and Jerusalem years ago, and decided to buy a new suit in one city, according to a marvelous anecdote in Aaron Miller’s excellent memoir, “The Much Too Promised Land.” Read More

As usual, the national political conventions pulsed with harsh rhetoric and wild claims. But both parties and their candidates shed little light on the most important single qualification that’s needed to bring this country out of the dark passage of George W. Bush: leadership. Read More

During two decades in the newspaper business, I developed a peculiar measuring rod for political, economic and international events: hold on to your hats on Fridays, August, holidays and election years — in that order. Read More